Re-evaluation in order for Martin library system to meet new demands

It’s no secret that electronic books and the iPads, iPhones, Kindles and Nooks used to read them are changing libraries everywhere — including Martin County.

Recently, letters to the editor, complaints at county commission meetings and disgruntled rumblings from groups that support Martin’s main library and five branches have put the heat on Library Director Brett W. Lear.

The complaints: Too few books on the shelves. Not enough new paper books. Not enough new e-books. Waiting lists that are too long. Too few library employees to help library visitors. Unfriendly employees.

Other gripes address the process of weeding out outdated and damaged books, alleging good ones are disappearing along with the bad.

Lear, a soft-spoken fellow who came to Martin from an Oregon library system 2 1/2 years ago, is quick to acknowledge the problems.

The trouble, he said, is lack of money. The $3.2 million budget to run all six libraries is down $1 million since 2007. He has $150,000 a year to buy new books for all six.

The “new books” shelves look particularly empty because 75 percent of them are checked out. And yes, some waiting lists include 50-60 people because there aren’t enough of the more popular titles. The libraries now have about 400,000 paper books. The library owns about 1,300 electronic books and contracts with two firms that give users access to another 45,000 e-books.

The system has 45.5 full-time employee positions, down from 58 five years ago, and a temp service to fill in gaps. At some branches, if someone calls in sick, the library might not be able to open. About 300 volunteers work as docents, greeters, tech advisers and homework helpers.

Fewer people use the libraries today. About 1.25 million visits were recorded in 2007, before the recession; almost 924,000 last year. But the libraries were open 324 hours a week in 2007 and are open 266 now — 58 fewer hours weekly.

Problems of removing old and damaged books are more difficult to assess. Just as individuals periodically sort through their personal libraries, public libraries do the same, usually removing about 5 percent of the collection each year.

Targets: Books that are outdated, such as travel guides from the 1980s or 90s, books that are damaged, and books that haven’t been checked out for a long time. That doesn’t mean that any book not checked out for a while is automatically “deleted.”

“We have different criteria for Shakespeare,” Lear said, “than for a fad diet book from the 90s.”

When Lear first arrived, he said, the collection hadn’t been weeded out for quite a while, and he estimates about 7 percent were removed last year. The books go to the Friends of the Library, a group that sells them at the Stuart Flea Market or at their bookstore at the Blake Library. Books that don’t sell aren’t tossed. They go to another group that sells them online and sends money to the Friends. The Friends donate about $150,000 a year to the library system and the Library Foundation, another group, donates about $100,000. While apparently a county ordinance prohibits sales of books or equipment without the commission’s permission, the Friends have been selling old library books for a long time — at least since I moved to Stuart in 1979.

All the current complaints lead to a March 18 County Commission meeting where Lear, County Administrator Taryn Kryzda and the commissioners will try to come up with a vision for the library system’s future.

I think that’s a great idea. While Martin County, with its large numbers of senior citizens, might seem to prefer paper books, that’s not true for everyone.

A technology road show at the Cummings Library in Palm City drew 160 people in January. Lear said he has found people are hungry to learn about electronic gadgets. Now all the libraries have computer classes, plus staff or volunteers to help individuals with tablets, smartphones and other electronics. At some branches, residents can borrow small electronics.

“When I first came here I assumed the older folks wouldn’t take to gadgets,” he said, “but they have.”

While commissioners consider a vision for the library’s future, they might also consider adding it to the list of what to fund if they ask voters to OK a one-cent sales tax for the next five years.

The added tax would help pay for specific road and building maintenance projects, and infrastructure replacement.

But put “Buy more library books and extend library hours” at the top of the list. Who wouldn’t vote for that?

Sally Swartz is a former member of The Post Editorial Board. Her e-mail address is sdswartz42@att.net